Improvement in automatic valves for dip-pipes



' UNITED STATES PATENT (.)IEFICEr WILLIAM H. ST. JOHN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE ST. JOHN AND ROGKWELL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN AUTOMATIC VALVES FOR DIP-PIPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 155,171, dated September 22, 1874 g application filed August 19, 1874.

To all whom it may conoci-fn:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM H. S'r. JOHN, of New York, N. Y., have invented a Self- Actin gValve forDip-Pipes in Hydraulic Mains, &c., of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to construct a self-acting valve upon the dip-pipe in the hydraulic main used in the manufacture ot' coal and other gas, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The valve A and all its working parts are between the space occupied above the surface of the liquid which forms the seal on the bottom of the dip-pipes, and the inside top of the hydraulic main. This valve A is hung upon sharp steeledge fuleruins B, the suspending-rod C working upon its extreme end and immediate center, which makes it pliable in overcoming any deviation in the angle described upon the surface of the projection that might possibly occur, and is hung upon any angle between the perpendicular and the horizontal, according to the vacuum on the hydraulic main. This circular projection is attached to the dip pipe, and is turned to a sharp edge which precludes any possibility of any tarry matter resting upon the surface. The valve A has a corresponding projection turned to a similar edge, or a perfectly smooth at surface.

The weight of the valve, when the retort is open, causes it to fall upon the circular projection on the dip-pipe; thereby the two metallic surfaces' coming into immediate contact form a perfect gas-tight joint.

When the retorts are charged and closed, the pressure from the retort on the stand and dip-pipe immediately opens the valve A, and allows the gas to escape without passing through the liquid seal, thereby reducing the pressure on the retort.

This valve A is constructed of sufficient weight, and hung upon any angle that the vacuum upon the hydraulic main would not overcome.

The seal at the bottom of the dip-pipe should be of sufcent depth to overcome the weight of the valve, when the retort is working. The aperture in the dip-pipe made for the projection D is of the same area as the dip-pipe. What I claim as my invention is In a gas apparatus, the valve A, in combination with the projection D of the dip-pipe, in the manner described, whereby the'valve will be opened by aow of gas from the retorts and will close automatically when the pressure ceases, substantially as described.

WVM. H. ST. JOHN.

Witnesses:

E. R. MCCARTY, W. T. BALLARD. 

